What comes to mind when you think of St. Patrick’s Day promotions? Green beer and decorative pots of gold? Us too. Step outside your green comfort zone, and think about what else you can offer your customers on this “lucky” holiday. We’ve done the hard work for you! Here are some festive marketing activities that we thought were worth sharing:

Taste Test: Get your Irish taste buds ready! P. Brennan’s Irish Pub in Arlington, Va. is hosting an Irish Whiskey tasting, amongst other events, in the week leading up to St. Patrick’s Day. Who needs green beer anyway?

Whiskey or Wine? Luckily, at Ducard Vineyards in Madison, Va., you won’t have to choose! The vineyard is hosting traditional Celtic band, Whiskey Wagon, to entertain guests at the vineyard on St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patty’s With A Twist: The Bayou Bakery in Arlington, Va. is known for their New Orleans-inspired menu. But this St. Patrick’s Day, they’re serving up favorites from New Orleans’ Irish Channel neighborhood –Irish classics with a Southern spin – sounds good to us!

Celebrate Like Every Day is St. Patrick’s Day: We all know there’s more to St. Patrick’s Day than green beer and leprechaun costume (not that there’s anything wrong with that). For the first half of March, Fadó Irish Pub in Alexandria, Va. is hosting charity events and broadcasting rugby games all while serving up authentic Irish food and beer.

It Pays to Be Green:Stonewall Kitchen in National Harbor, Md. is offering customers 15% off of their purchases if they come in wearing green. So, put on a green shirt and purchase yummy preserves and confections. Easy enough!

It’s Your Lucky Day: The Spa at The Peabody in Orlando, Fl. has an array of St. Patrick’s Day Spa Specials for you to choose from. Try the relaxing Warming Blarney Stone Massage, or the energizing Leaping Leprechaun package.

If you see any good St. Patrick’s Day promotions, share them with us! Here are some that were shared with us on LinkedIn:

Bill O. writes: The Radisson Hotel in Rochester, NY plays host to the Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. They give us free meeting rooms all year so we can plan and organize the event. Payback? Each year they sell out the hotel for the weekend, and their restaurant and pub are at burst capacity for three days in mid-March.

Paul F. writes: Do you think that a Day After St.Patty’s hangover kit would work for pubs? They could do the “hair of the dog” kind of thing, plus some Goody’s, BC, Bayer, etc. and other powdered stuff to fix that kind of ache/pain.